As first-year students get acclimated to medical school, there are many opportunities for them to learn about different fields within medicine. Each year, the Surgery Interest Group (SIG) hosts its Festival of Surgery, which introduces medical students to disciplines within surgery, presented by surgeons representing various specialties.

Approximately 75 first-and second-year students attended this year's event, where eight surgeons from Einstein's University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, who also are faculty members at Einstein, provided details about their respective surgical disciplines—including transplant, vascular, neurological, cardiothoracic, orthopedic, plastic, pediatric and general surgery. Students then were able to network with these professionals to seek more specific information and learn about opportunities to view surgeries and/or shadow physicians.

SIG is headed by Einstein medical students who are interested in pursuing surgical careers and whose goal is to educate other potentially interested students by offering opportunities to learn more about the field through lectures and interactive workshops with leading surgeons. To learn more about SIG, visit the group's website.